Well pipe cutter



March 27, 1934. R. D. BRANNON 1,952,652

WELL PIPE CUTTER Filed Nov. 5. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l i f 1 V Z0 1 I ,17

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March 27; 1934. R D. BRANNON WELL PIPE CUTTER Filed Nov. 5, 1932 2Sheets-Sheet 2 cm H.

Patented Mar. 27, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This inventionrelates to a tool designed for use in cutting well pipes, well tubing orthe like, the primary object of the invention being toprovide a toolwhich may be lowered into a well and expanded to move cutters intoengagement with the pipe, tubing, or liner in which the tool has beenpositioned, to the end that the pipe, tubing or liner may be cut intopredetermined lengths and removed with facility.

An important object of the invention is to provide a tool of thischaracter which will exert a continuous pressure on the knives of thecutter While in operation, causing the knives to cut into the pipe.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tool which may bereadily removed by reversing the direction of rotation of the tool,thereby drawing the knives into and out of contact with the pipe, tubeor liner under treatment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cutter havingpipe gripping means which will securely grip the pipe, tubing or liner,holding certain sections of the tool against rotation, as the tool isbeing operated.

With the foregoing and other objects in View, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within thescope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of a device constructed inaccordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the tool.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the upper section or knife carryingsection of the tool.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device includes a body portioncomprising an upper section 5 and a lower section 6, the sections beingmounted on the central or supporting tube 7, which is provided so thatit will not only hold the sections together, but will permit of thecirculation of liquid through the tool. The upper end of the supportingtube '7 is threaded at 8, the

threaded portion being fitted in a threaded opening of the upper section5.

The upper section 5 has its lower end formed with cut out portions 10arranged directly opposite to each other, in which cut out portionsrotary knives 11 are positioned, the knives being mounted on the movableblocks 12, that carry pins 13, depending therefrom.

Movable blocks 14 are mounted in cut out portions formed in the uppersection 5 which cut out portions are arranged at right angles to the outout portions 10, the last mentioned blocks supporting knife blades 15.These blades carry pins 16 that depend therefrom, for purposes to behereinafter more fully described.

Cooperating with the blocks 12 and 14, is a feed disk 17, that is formedwith curved slots 18, in which the pins 13 and 16 operate, to the endthat as the upper section 5 is rotated, the pins contacting with theedges of the slots, cause the knives 11 and blades 15, to movelaterally, according to the direction of rotation of the upper section5.

'As clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawings, the lower section 6 isformed with an extension 19 at its upper end, the portion of the section6 adjacent to the extension 19, being tapered as at 20, the taperedportion of the lower section 6 providing a surface against which thetapered surface 21 of the friction ring 22 engages.

This ring 22 is supplied with pins 23, that are fitted in openings inthe feed disk 17, securing the ring 22 and disk together so thatmovement of the upper section 5 of the tool will result in the feed diskoperating to accomplish the lateral movement of the knives and blades,as described.

Cut out portions 24 are formed in the sides of the lower section 6, andprovide recesses or seats for the movable gripping jaws 25 which areformed with curved outer surfaces that are provided with teeth 26constructed by providing vertical grooves, the teeth being pitched in adirection to bite into the tubing, in which the tool is positioned, whenthe tool is rotated in one direction.

Thus it will be seen that due to the construction of the teeth the toolmay be moved vertically within the pipe being cut, with littleresistance.

Openings are formed centrally of the jaws 25, and accommodate the screws27, that hold the jaws in position on the tool. Springs 28 are fittedbetween the jaws and the inner surfaces of the out out portions 26, andact to normally urge the jaws laterally to contact with the tubing.

wise direction.

When the tool is lowered into well tubing, the jaws will securely gripthe wall of the tubing and hold the lower section of the tool againstrotation, beyond a predetermined point.

An enlarged cut out portion is formed central- IV of the lower sectionand provides a housing for the spring 29, which has its lower endresting on the disk 30 formed with a groove to receive the ball bearings31, which also rest in a groove formed in the plate 32. This plate 32 isheld in position by means of the nut 33 fitted on the threaded portion34 of the supporting tube 7.

Due to this construction, the tension of the spring 29 may be regulated.The adjustment of the spring may be maintained by means of the lock nut35, which is also positioned on the threaded portion 34 of the tube 7.

The lower end of the section 6 is capped by the section 36, which fitsinto the lower end of the section 6, the section 36 being formed with athreaded opening to accommodate the lower threaded extremity of the tube'7. A nut indicated at 3'7 is mounted on the tube '7 and engages thesection 36, holding the section 36 in position.

It might be further stated that the openings in which the screws 2'? arepositioned, are elongated, as clearly shown by Figure 1 of the drawings,thereby permitting lateral movement of the movable gripping jaws 25, tocause them to better grip or release, when the tool is rotated.

Disposed at the upper end of the tool, and fitted in a tapered openingof the upper section 5, is a pipe 38, which affords means for operatingthe 4 tool.

In the operation of the tool, it is to be understood that the tool islowered into the well tubing, pipe or liner to be cut, and when itreaches the proper depth, the tool is rotated in a clock- This movementresults in the gripping jaws 25, biting into the inner surface of thepipe, tubing or liner under operation, securely holding the lowersection of the tool against rotation.

Upon further pressure directed to the tool to rotate the tool, the uppersection and tube 7 will rotate, causing the knives 11 and blades 15 tobe extended into engagement with the pipe, liner or tubing.

As the upper section rotates, the knives will cut into the article underoperation, cutting the same. During the cutting operation, the spring 29acts to exert a holding pressure on the feed disk 17, the feed diskcontinuing to force the cutters outwardly until the article is cut.

When the tool is rotated in the reverse direction, the jaws 25 return totheir innermost positions, releasing the tool, so that it may again bepositioned for cutting another section.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed is:

A pipe cutting tool comprising a body portion including an upper sectionand a lower section, a supporting tube secured to the upper section andextended through the lower section, a bearing plate mounted on thesupporting tube, a bearing disk mounted on the tube above the bearingplate, ball bearings between the bearing plate and bearing disk,yieldable means engaging the bearing disk and lower section, normallyurging the sections of the body portion together, but permitting rotarymovement of the upper section under excessive pressure, means on thelower section for gripping a pipe in which the tool is positioned,cutting knives carried by the upper sec tion for cutting the pipe inwhich the tool is positioned, and means for moving the knives outwardlyinto engagement with the pipe being cut, when the tool is rotated.

ROBERT D. BRANNON.

